By Cort Reynolds
COLUMBUS GROVE - Host Columbus Grove clinched the outright Northwest Conference girls basketball title with a convincing 82-23 win over Ada Thursday evening in the league season finale.
Ada finished its regular season 4-17 overall and 0-8 in the NWC with the defeat. Meanwhile, Grove improved to 12-8 and 7-1 in the NWC with the victory.
Abby Gladwell led Grove with 23 points.
Bulldog senior Maddie Gossard topped Ada with nine points while classate Anney Archer added eight. Raina England added six markers.
CG also won a shortened two-quarter JV game, 24-0.
Grove's only league loss came at Crestview in the NWC opener Dec. 7, 48-40. CG was tied with Spencerville for the conference lead going into Thursday's final league games, with the only prior Lady Bearcat league loss coming to Grove.
Spencerville thus had a chance to share their first-ever NWC girls hoop crown with CG if they won Thursday night, but they lost at home by 13 to Crestview. The defeat dropped them into a a three-way tie for second place with the Lady Knights and Bluffton at 6-2.
Delphos Jefferson ended up fifth in the NWC at 4-4. Paulding was sixth at 3-5. Ada finished last in the nine-team league, just behind Allen East (2-6) and Lincolnview (2-6), who tied for seventh.
Ada finished 3-6 on the road this season. The Bulldog girls next play state-ranked Fort Recovery (16-4) in the Div. IV sectional finals at Allen East Saturday, February 24 at 8 p.m. FR was voted eighth in the latest Div. IV AP state rankings.
The winner advances to the district semifinals at Wapakoneta March 1. The Bulldogs are 0-1 at neutral sites this season.
